Tube closure



May 7, 1957 M. E. GAERTNER TUBE CLOSURE Filed June 9, 1955 JNVEINTOR. E EIZMX zrw 'hmzm United States TUBE CLOSURE Max Ernst Gaertner, Buenos Aires, Argentina Application June 9, 1955, Serial No. 514,186

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-553) My invention relates to an improved, quick-acting closure for tubes or receptacles such as those widely used for packaging tooth paste, shaving cream, skin cream, etc.

Such closures are mostly of the detachable screw-cap type which are sometimes difficult to replace and frequently fall to the floor or into the sink drain and get lost. Attempts to improve these devices such as by attaching the cap to the tube by means of a flexible chain, rubber band or the like, have been generally unsuccessful because of cost and difficulty of manufacture, and the hampering of the use of the tube by the dangling appendage.

In my improved closure, I have provided a permanently attached cap which is rotatably fitted over a projecting dispensing portion of the tube, the latter being formed with an opening in the side thereof through which the packaged product may flow. This arrangement makes it possible to handle the tube with one hand since the cap is not removable and cannot get lost, nor does it hamper use or handling of the tube.

The object of my invention, therefore, is to provide an improved product package and closure therefor of the flexible tube type but not limited thereto.

In the accompanying drawings in which I have shown a preferred form of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tube in upright position with the closure cap in open position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the Fig. 1 tube with the cap in open position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the cap in closed position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a modified type of tube closure wherein the mouthpiece and cap assembly is affixcd by a threaded connection;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of another modification wherein the assembly is aflixed by means of a flanged connect-ion;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the Fig. 1 tube;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the line 7-7 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings wherein reference characters have been used to designate corresponding parts referred to below, it may be seen that in Figs. 13 and 68. 1 have shown a flexible tube 1 of the type generally used for toothpaste or shaving cream. The tube 1 has integrally formed on its upper portion a rigid, nonfiexible mouthpiece part which comprises a shoulder 2 and a conical mouthpiece 3. The latter has an opening 4 in the side thereof.

Fitted over the member or part 3 and rotatable with respect thereto is a cap 5. The cap is suitably formed internally such that it fits the outer conical surface of the part 4 in sealing relation and is provided on its outer internal projecting part 13 provided with a flange 14 2,791,358 Fatented May 7, 1957 ice which engages the underside of a shoulder formed internal- 1y of the part 3 (see Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5) and functions to retain the cap on the mouthpiece While permitting rotat-ion between the parts. The flange 14 may be formed by insertion of a tool through the body of the tube 1 before the latter is filled and closed or in the case of closure assemblies not integral with the container (such as shown in Figs. 4 and 5), the forming tool may be readily inserted into the closure assembly before it is secure to the container. In instances where the material used is not readily deformable, a rivet or screw may be used to secure the cap.

As illustrated, the mouthpiece 3 has a dispensing opening 4 in the side thereof and the cap 5 has a similar opening 6 in its sidewall, which opening is in registry with the opening 4 when the cap is in open position (Figs. 2 and 7). To close the opening 4, it is necessary only to rotate the wing 7 whereupon the opening 6 is rotated out of registry with the opening 4.

The shoulder portion 2 is provided with integral raised bumps or stops 8 and 9 which limit the rotational movement of the cap to that desiredpreferab-ly by engaging the wing '7.

In instances Where it is impractical or undesirable to form the mouthpiece 3 as an integral part of the container, the mouthpiece and cap assembly may be made separately and secured to the container by means of a threaded connection 11 (see Fig. 4). A flexible washer or gasket 11 is preferably used with this construction.

Fig. 5 illustrates a further modification wherein the closure assembly is attached to the container by an interfitting flange 12.

Arrangements such as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 are particularly adapted for use with rigid containers such as bottles or cans where it is impractical to make the mouthpiece part integral with the container.

My improved closure may be of metal, plastic, or any suitable material and While preferred embodiments have been shown for illustrative purposes, it is not intended thereby to limit the scope of the invention but only as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing closure comprising a conically shaped mouthpiece having an opening in the sidewall thereof and an axial opening, a shoulder adjacent said axial opening interiorly of said mouthpiece, a conically shaped cap disposed in telescopic rotatable relation with said mouthpiece, said cap having an axially projecting portion extending through the axial opening in said mouthpiece and provided with a flange disposed in engagement with said shoulder, an opening in the sidewall of said cap, and means permitting rotation of said cap whereby said sidewall openings may be disposed in registered and unregistered relation.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cap is formed with a finger engaging portion on its outer surface and said mouthpiece is formed with stops adapted to be engaged by said finger portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 372,899 Dorwart Nov. 8, 1887 1,631,525 Gallett June 7, 1927 1,764,973 Ohmart June 17, 1930 1,854,472 Jones Apr. 19, 1932 2,346,383 McNail Apr. 11, 1944 2,352,384 Hoch June 27, 1944 

